In 2014, renowned theatre company Paines Plough celebrates its 40th.
The ambitious programme for its anniversary year will see the company stage ten new plays, showcase the talents of 100 playwrights and have its work performed in 50 venues nationwide.
In making the announcement, artistic directors James Grieve and George Perrin have said, “To celebrate our 40th birthday, we’ve put together a programme of premières from some of the nation’s finest playwrights—some are Olivier Award-winners; others are first-timers, honouring our historic commitment to nurturing both new and established talent.
"We’re touring to more places than ever before. We continue to collaborate with partners across the country and throughout the industry. It’s an honour for us to lead this company into its fifth decade of producing new plays on tour.
"As vital as ever, if Paines Plough didn’t exist, you’d have to invent it.”
A Paines Plough and Birmingham Repertory Theatre co–production opens the season with a tour of Hopelessly Devoted by Kate Tempest with music by Kate Tempest and Dan Carey. James Grieve directs this story of redemption set in a women's prison; musical direction and arrangements are by Tom Atwood.
Blister by Laura Lomas is presented by the company with the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama and Gate Theatre, Stef O’Driscoll directs, and, with Watford Palace Theatre, award-winning playwright Mike Bartlett's An Intervention is to be directed by James Grieve.
Maintaining the Welsh connection, George Perrin directs Not The Worst Place a Swansea–set play by Sam Burns presented with Clwyd Theatr Cymru and Sherman Cymru.
Every Brilliant Thing by Duncan Macmillan sees the company work with Pentabus in association with The Jersey Arts Trust and Nabokov; George Perrin again directs this play partially based on true stories about having depression and involving members of the audience, making each night unique.
The company gets together with Sheffield Theatres for Lungs by Duncan Macmillan. This is part of The Roundabout Season, the programme for which has not yet been announced in its entirety but which will also include Dennis Kelly’s play for young people, Our Teacher’s A Troll.
The Angry Brigade by This House writer James Graham rounds up the national tours in the autumn, starting from the Drum Theatre Plymouth. James Grieve will direct.
Come To Where I’m From is a five–year project that has seen Paines Plough work with 100 playwrights. This three-day installation at London's Southbank is part of the London Literature Festival at which a smartphone and tablet travel guide app will be launched: A Playwrights’ Guide to the UK.
- Hopelessly Devoted on tour from 26 February – 19 April
- Blister 1 to 5 April, Bute Theatre, RWCMD, Cardiff and 9 to 11 April, Gate Theatre, London
- An Intervention plays Watford Palace Theatre from 6 April to 3 May
- Not The Worst Place plays Clwyd Theatr Cymru from 12 April to 3 May and Sherman Cymru from 5 to 10 May
- Roundabout – full details to be announced shortly
- Every Brilliant Thing – 16 May to 14 June, national tour
- The Angry Brigade – autumn national tour
- Come To Where I’m From – 10 to 12 October, Festival Village, Southbank Centre
For further information and booking visit the Paines Plough web site.